Roofing insulation fastening system

ABSTRACT

A system for securing a plurality of slabs of insulation to an underlying roof decking substructure by a plurality of batten strips is disclosed, wherein the plurality of slabs of insulation are disposed within a grid-type arrangement comprising a plurality of transversely oriented rows of the slabs of insulation and a plurality of longitudinally oriented columns of the slabs of insulation. Alternative columns of the slabs of insulation are preferably longitudinally offset with respect to the columns of the slabs of insulation which are interposed between the alternative columns of the slabs of insulation so as to effectively stagger adjacent or abutting slabs of insulation with respect to each other for enhancing wind uplift resistance properties. In addition, the plurality of batten strips are oriented transversely across the adjacent, abutting columns of the slabs of insulation so as to permit each one of the plurality of transversely oriented batten strips to fixedly secure the plurality of slabs of insulation to the underlying roof decking substructure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to roofing systems, and moreparticularly to a new and improved system for securing a plurality ofslabs of insulation to the under-lying roof decking substructure bymeans of a plurality of batten strips, batten straps, batten bars, orthe like, wherein the plurality of slabs of insulation are disposedwithin a grid-type arrangement comprising a plurality of horizontally ortransversely oriented rows of the slabs of insulation and a plurality ofvertically or longitudinally oriented columns of the slabs ofinsulation, wherein alternative columns of the slabs of insulation arepreferably longitudinally offset with respect to the columns of theslabs of insulation which are interposed between the alternative columnsof the slabs of insulation so as to effectively stagger adjacent orabutting slabs of insulation with respect to each other for enhancingwind uplift resistance properties, and wherein further, the plurality ofbatten strips, batten bars, batten straps, or the like, are orientedtransversely across the adjacent, abutting columns of the slabs ofinsulation so as to permit each one of the plurality of transverselyoriented batten strips, batten straps, batten bars, or the like, tofixedly secure the plurality of slabs of insulation which areeffectively disposed within each transversely oriented row of the slabsof insulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roofing battens, in the form of roofing strips, roofing straps, roofingbars, or the like, are of course well-known in the art and industry andare widely used for securing flexible, thermoplastic roofing sheets orenvironmental membranes to underlying roof decking substructures inorder to protect the same from weather or environmental conditions. Theroofing battens may be fabricated from any one of several differentmaterials, such as, for example, metal, wood, thermoplastic, or thelike, and may be provided with pre-punched holes or apertures foraccommodating mechanical fasteners, such as, for example, roofingscrews, which are passed through the apertures or holes formed withinthe roofing battens so as to in fact secure the roofing battens, andtherefore the flexible, thermoplastic roofing sheets or environmentalmembranes, to the underlying roofing substructures. A thermoplastic orpolymeric material having particular utility for fabricating a roofingbatten is disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,430 which issued to Kishet al. on Oct. 16, 1990, wherein the polymeric material from which theroofing batten is fabricated comprises a combination of PET, orpolyethylene terephthalate, and a polyolefin, such as, for example,polypropylene. Still further, other thermoplastic roofing battens arelikewise disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,116 which issued to Hasanon Jan. 27, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,671 which issued to Rathgeber etal. on Nov. 28, 1995, U.S. Pat. 5,349,804 which issued to Van Erden etal. on Sep. 27, 1994, U.S. Pat. 5,319,908 which issued to Van Erden etal. on Jun. 14, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,685 which issued to Rathgeberet al. on May 10, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,736 which issued to VanErden et al. on Sep. 7, 1993, U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,342 which issued toHasan et al. on Nov. 10, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,562 which issued toKelly on Apr. 12, 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,211 which issued to Russellet al. on Jan. 12, 1988, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,306 which issued toSchauffele on May 1, 1984.

It is noted, however, that despite the fact that such roofing battensare well-known, and that they have enjoyed widespread usage inconnection with securing such flexible, thermoplastic roofing sheets orenvironmental membranes to underlying roof decking substructures inorder to protect the same from weather or environmental conditions, suchroofing battens have not been used heretofore in connection withsecuring slabs of insulation to the underlying roof deckingsubstructures. To the contrary, the slabs of insulation have heretoforebeen secured to the underlying roof decking substructures by othermeans. One means or method for securing the slabs of insulation to theunderlying roof decking substructure has comprised the use of suitableadhesives, however, due, for example, to the variance and severity ofweather and environmental conditions, that is, for example, largetemperature differentials as well as extreme wind conditions, thevarious adhesives could not always reliably maintain the slabs ofinsulation secured to the underlying roof decking substructures.

Another means or method of securing the slabs of insulation to theunderlying roof decking substructure comprised the use of roofing platesfabricated from steel or another metal, however, as can readily beappreciated, the installation of the individual roofing plates is verytime-consuming and tedious to operator personnel. In addition, thefabrication costs involved in connection with the manufacture of suchmetal or steel roofing plates is quite considerable, as are the freightcosts for shipping and transporting such metal or steel roofing platesdue to the considerably large weight of the metal or steel roofingplates. Still further, it is noted when the aforenoted flexible,thermoplastic roofing sheets or environmental membranes are to besecured atop the underlying slabs of insulation in order to protect thesame from weather and other environmental conditions, under-surfaceportions of the flexible, thermoplastic roofing sheets or environmentalmembranes are adhesively bonded to the metal or steel plates utilized tosecure the slabs of insulation to the underlying substructures. It hasbeen experienced, however, that the adhesive, utilized in conjunctionwith securing the flexible, thermoplastic roofing sheets orenvironmental membranes to the underlying slabs of insulation, does notalways adhere well to the metal or steel roofing plates. Accordingly,under, for example, wind uplift conditions, the flexible, thermoplasticroofing sheets or environmental membranes tend to pull away or becomeseparated from the steel or metal roofing plates which then placesadditional and abnormal stresses upon other regions of the flexible,thermoplastic roofing sheets or environmental membranes which tends toexacerbate failure of the flexible, thermoplastic roofing sheets orenvironmental membranes and the protection they normally provide for theunderlying roof decking substructures against weather and environmentalconditions.

A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved roofinginsulation fastening system wherein the slabs of insulation canassuredly be secured to the underlying substructures, wherein the meansfor assuredly securing the slabs of insulation to the underlying roofdecking substructures does not comprise solely adhesive means which isunreliable, wherein the means for assuredly securing the slabs ofinsulation to the underlying roof decking substructure does not comprisesteel or metal plates which entail a considerable amount of weight andare labor-intensive and costly to install, wherein the means forassuredly securing the slabs of insulation to the underlying roofdecking substructures comprise batten strips, batten straps, or battenbars which are relatively light in weight, are economical to fabricate,and can easily and rapidly be installed, and wherein flexible,thermoplastic roofing sheets or environmental membranes can be securelybonded to the batten strips, batten straps, or batten bars, forassuredly securing the slabs of insulation to the underlyingsubstructures, such that the roofing sheets or environmental membranesdo not pull away or prematurely separate from the batten strips, battenstraps, or batten bars so as not to jeopardize the protective propertiesof the roofing sheets or environmental membranes with respect to theunderlying roof decking substructures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with theteachings and principles of the present invention through the provisionof a new and improved system for securing a plurality of slabs ofinsulation to the under-lying roof decking substructure by means of aplurality of batten strips, batten straps, batten bars, or the like,wherein the plurality of slabs of insulation are disposed within agrid-type arrangement comprising a plurality of horizontally ortransversely oriented rows of the slabs of insulation and a plurality ofvertically or longitudinally oriented columns of the slabs ofinsulation. Alternative columns of the slabs of insulation arepreferably longitudinally offset with respect to the columns of theslabs of insulation which are interposed between the alternative columnsof the slabs of insulation so as to effectively stagger adjacent orabutting slabs of insulation with respect to each other for enhancingwind uplift resistance properties. In addition, the plurality of battenstrips, batten bars, batten straps, or the like, are orientedtransversely across the adjacent, abutting columns of the slabs ofinsulation so as to permit each one of the plurality of transverselyoriented batten strips, batten straps, batten bars, or the like, tofixedly secure the plurality of slabs of insulation which areeffectively disposed within each transversely oriented row of the slabsof insulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other features and attendant advantages of the present inventionwill be more fully appreciated from the following detailed descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichlike reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view partially illustrating a batten strip whichhas been constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings ofthe present invention, and which is to be used within a roofinginsulation fastening system for securing a plurality of slabs ofinsulation to underlying roof decking substructures;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the batten strip illustrated withinFIG. 1 as taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view partially illustrating a roofing insulationfastening system, constructed in accordance with the principles andteachings of the present invention, wherein a plurality of the slabs ofinsulation are disposed within a grid-type arrangement comprising aplurality of horizontally or transversely oriented rows of the slabs ofinsulation, and a plurality of vertically or longitudinally orientedcolumns of the slabs of insulation, and wherein further, a plurality ofbatten strips, as illustrated within FIG. 1, are oriented transverselyacross the adjacent, abutting columns of the slabs of insulation so asto permit each one of the plurality of transversely oriented battenstrips to fixedly secure the plurality of slabs of insulation, which areeffectively disposed within each one of the transversely oriented rowsof the slabs of insulation, to the underlying roof decking substructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2thereof, a batten strip, batten bar, batten strap, or the like, whichhas been constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings ofthe present invention, and which is to be used within a roofinginsulation fastening system for securing a plurality of slabs ofinsulation to underlying roof decking substructures, is disclosed and isindicated by the reference character 10. The batten strip 10 can befabricated, for example, either as a single ply structure by means of asuitable extrusion process, or as a tubular member by means of asuitable extrusion process wherein the tubular member can besubsequently flattened into a dual-ply structure as illustrated withinFIG. 2. If the batten strip 10 is manufactured as a tubular member, thefabrication process can be similar to that disclosed within any one ofthe aforenoted patents which issued to Van Erden et al. and which arehereby incorporated by reference. The batten strip 10 may be fabricated,for example, from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), although the battenstrip 10 may be fabricated from other materials, such as, for example,polypropylene, NYLON®, a suitable polyester, polyvinylchloride (PVC), orthe like. The batten strip 10 may have titanium dioxide (TiO₂) addedthereto so as to increase its various strength properties, and ADMER® isanother additive that may be incorporated within the polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) so as to reduce the tendency of the batten strip toundergo or experience splitting as a result of wind uplift forces andscrew fastener torque.

The batten strip 10 has a width dimension W which is preferably withinthe range of 0.95-1.03 inches, and has a thickness dimension T which ispreferably within the range of 0.026-0.033 inches. In addition, thebatten strip 10 is preferably provided with a plurality of holes orapertures 12 which are pre-punched into the batten strip 10, and it isseen that the plurality of holes or apertures 12 are longitudinallyspaced from each other, along the longitudinally extending axis 14 ofthe batten strip 10, by means of a distance L which is preferably withinthe range of 2.97-3.03 inches. In addition, each one of the pre-punchedholes or apertures has a diametrical extent which is preferably withinthe range of 0.187-0.197 inches so as to accommodate suitable mechanicalnail or screw fasteners, not shown. Accordingly, each one of the battenstrips 10 may be fixedly secured atop the slabs of insulation so as toassuredly secure the slabs of insulation to the underlying roof deckingsubstructure. Still further, it is to be noted that in addition to theuse of the mechanical nail or screw fasteners, the undersurface portionof each one of the batten strips 10 may have a layer of adhesivedisposed thereon.

With reference now being made to FIG. 3, the use of a plurality of theaforenoted batten strips 10 in conjunction with a plurality of slabs ofinsulation, in order to fixedly and assuredly secure the plurality ofslabs of insulation to an underlying roof decking substructure, will nowbe described. FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the new andimproved roofing insulation fastening system which has been constructedin accordance with the principles and teachings of the presentinvention, which is generally indicated by the reference character 110,and which is illustrated as being used in conjunction with a partialsection or region of a roofing structure so as to fixedly and assuredlysecure slabs of insulation onto an underlying roof decking substructure.More particularly, the underlying roof decking substructure is adaptedto be covered by means of a plurality of slabs of insulation 112,wherein each one of the slabs of insulation 112 is approximately eightfeet long and four feet wide, and it is therefore seen and appreciatedthat each one of the plurality of slabs of insulation 112 has oppositelydisposed end edge portions 114 and oppositely disposed side edgeportions 116. It is also seen that the oppositely disposed end edgeportions 114 of each one of the slabs of insulation 112 are disposed inan end-to-end abutting contact arrangement with the oppositely disposedend edge portions 114 of adjacent slabs of insulation 112, and in asimilar manner, the oppositely disposed side edge portions 116 of eachone of the slabs of insulation 112 are disposed in a side-by-sideabutting contact arrangement with the oppositely disposed side edgeportions 116 of adjacent slabs of insulation 112.

Continuing further, it is additionally seen that the plurality of slabsof insulation 112 are disposed within a grid-type arrangement comprisinga plurality of longitudinally spaced, horizontally or transverselyoriented rows, as schematically indicated by means of the loci118,120,122, and a plurality of laterally spaced, vertically orlongitudinally oriented columns as schematically indicated by means ofthe loci 124,126,128. In connection with this grid-type arrangement ofthe plurality of slabs of insulation 112, it is noted further that whilethe oppositely disposed side edge portions 116,116 of adjacent slabs ofinsulation 112 disposed within all of the rows 118,120,122 defining eachone of the columns 124,126,128 are respectively located along common,laterally or transversely spaced, vertically or longitudinally orientedloci 130,132, the slabs of insulation 112 disposed within, for example,alternative columns 124 and 128 are longitudinally offset with respectto those slabs of insulation 112 which are disposed within thealternative column 126 which is effectively interposed between thecolumns 124,128. In this manner, the oppositely disposed end edgeportions 114,114 of adjacent slabs of insulation 112 that are disposedwithin the columns 124,128 are respectively located along commonvertically or longitudinally spaced, horizontally or transverselyoriented loci 134,136, whereas the oppositely disposed end edge portions114,114 of adjacent slabs of insulation 112 that are disposed within thecolumn 126 are respectively located along vertically or longitudinallyspaced, horizontally or transversely oriented loci 138,140 which arevertically or longitudinally offset from, or with respect to, thehorizontally or transversely oriented loci 134,136. This offset patternor arrangement of the slabs of insulation 112 serves to reduce anytendency of the slabs of insulation 112 to become separated from theunderlying roof decking substructure in a continuously propagated mannerif the roofing structure should be subjected or exposed to extremelyhigh wind uplift forces.

With reference continuing to be made to FIG. 3, it is seen still furtherthat a plurality of the batten strips 10, as illustrated within FIGS. 1and 2, are oriented transversely along vertically or longitudinallyspaced, horizontally or transversely oriented loci 142,144,146 so as tocontinuously extend across or span all of the adjacent, abutting columns124,126,128 of the slabs of insulation 112 which completely cover theunderlying roof decking substructure. In this manner, each one of thehorizontally or transversely oriented, plurality of batten strips 10 isable to fixedly secure all of the plurality of slabs of insulation 112,which are respectively located within each one of the vertically orlongitudinally spaced, horizontally or transversely oriented rows118,120,122 of the grid-type arrangement of the plurality of slabs ofinsulation 112, onto the underlying roof decking substructure along afixation path which is defined by means of a particular one of thevertically or longitudinally spaced, horizontally or transverselyoriented loci 142,144,146. It is to be particularly noted that thistechnique of affixing the plurality of slabs of insulation 112 to theunderlying roof decking substructure is quite different from theconventional or prior art technique of affixing, for example, theflexible thermoplastic roofing sheets or environmental membranes to theunderlying roof decking substructure, as has been exemplified by meansof similar batten strips, batten straps, batten bars, or the like, ashas been disclosed within the previously noted patents which issued toHasan, Hasan et al., Van Erden et al., Rathgeber et al., Kelly, Russellet al., and Schauffele, in that the batten strips, batten straps, orbatten bars of such patents are normally coaxially aligned with, ordisposed immediately adjacent to and parallel with, the longitudinallyextending seamed edge portions defined between adjacent or matedthermoplastic sheets or environmental membranes. To the contrary, inaccordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,the batten strips 10 extend across or traverse the mating or abuttingside edge portions 116,116 defined between adjacent slabs of insulation112 so as to be disposed substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinally extending seamed edge portions 116,116 defined betweenadjacent or mated slabs of insulation 112. In addition, the battenstrips 10 are disposed at vertically or longitudinally spaced positionswhich are located at an intermediate point between the oppositelydisposed, mated end edge portions 114, 114 of the slabs of insulation112.

The plurality of batten strips 10 are adapted to be deposited atop theplurality of slabs of insulation 112, and fixedly secured to theunderlying roof decking substructure, by means of a standup applicatortool, which is the subject of copending United States Patent Applicationwhich is entitled, ______, which was filed on in the name of Riaz Hasanet al., and which has been assigned Ser. No. ______, whereby the standupapplicator tool dispenses the plurality of batten strips 10 along thevertically or longitudinally spaced, horizontally or transverselyoriented loci 142,144,146 and fixedly secures the same atop theplurality of slabs of insulation 112 by means of suitable fastenerswhich are inserted through the prepunched holes or apertures 12. It maytherefore be appreciated that the application of the plurality of battenstrips 10 onto the slabs of insulation 112, and the fixation of theplurality of batten strips 10 to the underlying roof deckingsubstructure is substantially faster, easier, and less fatiguing tooperator personnel than the conventional or prior art technique ofdepositing a plurality of individual insulation plates onto the slabs ofinsulation and subsequently securing each one of the individualinsulation plates to the underlying roof decking substructure.

In connection with the dispensing and application or fixation of theplurality of batten strips 10 onto the upper surface portions of theplurality of slabs of insulation 112, it has been noted that in additionto the insertion of the mechanical nail or screw fasteners through theprepunched holes or apertures 12 formed within the batten strips 10 soas be fixedly embedded within the underlying roof decking substructure,the under-surface portion of each one of the batten strips 10 may alsohave a layer of adhesive disposed thereon. Still yet further, it isnoted that when the thermoplastic sheets or environmental membranes areto be secured atop the slabs of insulation 112, the batten strips,similar to those as disclosed within the aforenoted patents which issuedto Hasan, Hasan et al., Van Erden et al., Rathgeber et al., Kelly,Russell et al., and Schauffele, may be secured both by mechanicalfasteners and adhesives. Therefore, when the adhesives, disposed uponthe undersurface portions of the batten strips being used to secure thethermoplastic sheets or environmental membranes atop the slabs ofinsulation 112, are adhesively bonded to the upper surface portions ofthe batten strips 10 being utilized to fixedly secure the slabs ofinsulation 112 to the underlying roof decking substructure, the factthat the batten strips 10 are fabricated from a suitable one of theaforenoted thermoplastic materials, the adhesives, disposed upon theundersurface portions of the batten strips being used to secure thethermoplastic sheets or environmental membranes atop the slabs ofinsulation 112, will more assuredly bond with, and remain bonded to, thebatten strips 10 than with respect to, or as compared with, the metal orsteel plates conventionally or heretofore used for fixedly securingslabs of insulation to the underlying roof decking substructure.

Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles andteachings of the present invention, there has been developed anddisclosed a new and improved system for securing a plurality of slabs ofinsulation to the underlying roof decking substructure by means of aplurality of batten strips, batten straps, batten bars, or the like,wherein the plurality of slabs of insulation are disposed within agrid-type arrangement comprising a plurality of horizontally ortransversely oriented rows of the slabs of insulation and a plurality ofvertically or longitudinally oriented columns of the slabs ofinsulation. Alternative columns of the slabs of insulation arepreferably longitudinally offset with respect to the columns of theslabs of insulation which are interposed between the alternative columnsof the slabs of insulation so as to effectively stagger adjacent orabutting slabs of insulation with respect to each other for enhancingwind uplift resistance properties. In addition, the plurality of battenstrips, batten bars, batten straps, or the like, are orientedtransversely across the adjacent, abutting columns of the slabs ofinsulation so as to permit each one of the plurality of transverselyoriented batten strips, batten straps, batten bars, or the like, toextend across, span, or traverse the adjacent slabs of insulation so asto fixedly secure the plurality of slabs of insulation which areeffectively disposed within each transversely oriented row of the slabsof insulation.

Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. For example, while it hasbeen noted that the batten strips 10 extend across or traverse themating or abutting side edge portions 116,116 defined between adjacentslabs of insulation 112 so as to be disposed substantially perpendicularto the longitudinally extending seamed edge portions defined betweenadjacent or mated slabs of insulation 112, it is also possible that thebatten strips 10 extend across or traverse the mating or abutting endedge portions 114,114 defined between adjacent slabs of insulation 112so as to be disposed substantially perpendicular to the laterally ortransversely extending seamed end edge portions 114,114 defined betweenadjacent or mated slabs of insulation 112. If this is the case, then itis also to be noted that the batten strips 10 will be disposed athorizontally or transversely spaced positions which are located at anintermediate point between the oppositely disposed, mated side edgeportions 116,116 of the slabs of insulation 112. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the presentinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

1. A fastening system for fastening slabs of roofing insulation onto anunderlying roof decking substructure of a roofing structure, comprising:a plurality of slabs of roofing insulation; and batten means disposeddirectly atop said plurality of slabs of roofing insulation for fixedlyengaging underlying roof decking substructure so as to fixedly securesaid plurality of slabs of roofing insulation to the roof deckingunderstructure.
 2. The fastening system as set forth in claim 1,wherein: said plurality of slabs of roofing insulation are disposedwithin a grid arrangement comprising laterally extending rows andlongitudinally extending columns.
 3. The fastening system as set forthin claim 2, wherein: each one of said plurality of slabs of roofinginsulation comprises a pair of oppositely disposed side edge portionsand a pair of oppositely disposed end edge portions; and said pluralityof slabs of roofing insulation are disposed within said grid arrangementcomprising said laterally extending rows and said longitudinallyextending columns such that pairs of said oppositely disposed side edgeportions of adjacent ones of said plurality of slabs of roofinginsulation, disposed within said laterally extending rows, are disposedin abutting contact with each other, and pairs of said oppositelydisposed end edge portions of adjacent ones of said plurality of slabsof roofing insulation, disposed within said longitudinally extendingcolumns, are disposed in abutting contact with each other.
 4. Thefastening system as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said batten meansextend across said grid arrangement of said plurality of slabs ofinsulation so as to span a multiplicity of said plurality of slabs ofinsulation disposed within said laterally extending rows and saidlongitudinally extending columns.
 5. The fastening system as set forthin claim 4, wherein: said batten means comprises a plurality of battenmembers which extend across said grid arrangement of said plurality ofslabs of insulation at locations intermediate said oppositely disposedend edge portions of said plurality of slabs of insulation so as toextend across oppositely disposed side edge portions of said pluralityof slabs of insulation.
 6. The fastening system as set forth in claim 2,wherein: first alternative ones of said longitudinally extending columnsof said plurality of slabs of insulation disposed within said gridarrangement of said laterally extending rows and said longitudinallyextending columns are longitudinally offset with respect to secondalternative ones of said longitudinally extending columns of saidplurality of slabs of insulation whereby adjacent ones of said pluralityof slabs of insulation will be longitudinally offset with respect toeach other so as to effectively reduce any tendency of said plurality ofslabs of insulation to become separated from the underlying roof deckingsubstructure in a continuously propagated manner when the roofingstructure is subjected to wind uplift forces.
 7. The fastening system asset forth in claim 5, wherein: said batten members are selected from thegroup comprising batten strips, batten straps, and batten bars.
 8. Thefastening system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said batten means isfabricated from a thermoplastic material which is selected from thegroup comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene,NYLON®, polyester, and polyvinylchloride (PVC).
 9. The fastening systemas set forth in claim 1, wherein: said batten means comprises a two-plymember formed from a flattened extruded tube.
 10. The fastening systemas set forth in claim 1, wherein: said batten means comprises asingle-ply member.
 11. A roofing system, comprising: a plurality ofslabs of roofing insulation; and batten means disposed directly atopsaid plurality of slabs of roofing insulation for fixedly engagingunderlying roof decking substructure so as to fixedly secure saidplurality of slabs of roofing insulation to the roof deckingunderstructure.
 12. The roofing system as set forth in claim 11,wherein: said plurality of slabs of roofing insulation are disposedwithin a grid arrangement comprising laterally extending rows andlongitudinally extending columns.
 13. The roofing system as set forth inclaim 12, wherein: each one of said plurality of slabs of roofinginsulation comprises a pair of oppositely disposed side edge portionsand a pair of oppositely disposed end edge portions; and said pluralityof slabs of roofing insulation are disposed within said grid arrangementcomprising said laterally extending rows and said longitudinallyextending columns such that pairs of said oppositely disposed side edgeportions of adjacent ones of said plurality of slabs of roofinginsulation, disposed within said laterally extending rows, are disposedin abutting contact with each other, and pairs of said oppositelydisposed end edge portions of adjacent ones of said plurality of slabsof roofing insulation, disposed within said longitudinally extendingcolumns, are disposed in abutting contact with each other.
 14. Theroofing system as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said batten meansextend across said grid arrangement of said plurality of slabs ofinsulation so as to span a multiplicity of said plurality of slabs ofinsulation disposed within said laterally extending rows and saidlongitudinally extending columns.
 15. The roofing system as set forth inclaim 14, wherein: said batten means comprises a plurality of battenmembers which extend across said grid arrangement of said plurality ofslabs of insulation at locations intermediate said oppositely disposedend edge portions of said plurality of slabs of insulation so as toextend across oppositely disposed side edge portions of said pluralityof slabs of insulation.
 16. The roofing system as set forth in claim 12,wherein: first alternative ones of said longitudinally extending columnsof said plurality of slabs of insulation disposed within said gridarrangement of said laterally extending rows and said longitudinallyextending columns are longitudinally offset with respect to secondalternative ones of said longitudinally extending columns of saidplurality of slabs of insulation whereby adjacent ones of said pluralityof slabs of insulation will be longitudinally offset with respect toeach other so as to effectively reduce any tendency of said plurality ofslabs of insulation to become separated from the underlying roof deckingsubstructure in a continuously propagated manner when the roofingstructure is subjected to wind uplift forces.
 17. The roofing system asset forth in claim 15, wherein: said batten members are selected fromthe group comprising batten strips, batten straps, and batten bars. 18.The roofing system as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said batten meansis fabricated from a thermoplastic material which is selected from thegroup comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene,NYLON®, polyester, and polyvinylchloride (PVC).
 19. The roofing systemas set forth in claim 11, wherein: said batten means comprises a two-plymember formed from a flattened extruded-tube.
 20. The roofing system asset forth in claim 11, wherein: said batten means comprises a single-plymember.